Clothesline cleaner



June 21 1927,

' H. KOEST CLOTHESLINE CLEANER Filed y -8. 1926 v 5 (1 v a 4,1 17 ,15 12t 1 I I W I 14' INVENTOR Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES HENRY KOESTER, or IRVINGTON,'NEW JERSEY.

GLOTHESLIN E CLEANER.

Application filed May 8, 1926. SeriaLNo. 107,621.

This invention relates to devices adapted to embrace a clothes-line andbe slid along the same to clean it of dust or dirt which would soil thewash'if hung upon the line without cleaning it, and more especially theinvention relates to cleaners of this class which are intended to be,mounted upon one run of a pulley clothes-line and drawn along thereby toclean the other or parallel run. Obviously, the invention may be used inany otherway of which it is capable for cleaning a line or similarelongated member.

The objects of the invention are to avoid retaining or holding the dustor dirt against the clothes-line or the'like and rubbing it into or ontothe same, but rather to brush the dust or dirtofif the line into theair, to this end to provide a cleaning brush which engages the line inaring around the line and preferably in a plane transverse thereto; toprovide a cleaner employing a twisted wire brush to engage the line in anarrow ring around the same; to thus secure a brush which can be simplyhooked over the line to be cleaned; to enable said twisted wire brush tobe re-shaped by the user to bring all the bristles into use as theywear, and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought outby the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like characters ofreference indicate the same parts throughout the several Views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner embodying my invention,mounted upon a pulley clothes-line;

Figure 2 is a side view of the cleaner detached, and

Figure 3 is an end view of the same.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in said drawings, 1indicates a length of twisted wire brush of any usual construction withbristles projecting laterally in all directions, said length being bentinto such a curve as to bring its ends nearly together and cause thefree ends of the bristles at the center of the curved brush 2 to assumethe proper position to engage a clothes-line or other member on allsides. For an ordinary clothes-line, as shown at 3 in Figure 1,practically no apparent opening is left at the center at of the brush,but for a line or other member of greater diameter such an opening mightbe left as would cause the ends of the bristles to engage the surface ofthe line or other member with the proper cleaning effect. In any event,because the free ends of the bristles lie in a cylindrical surface ofwhich the twisted wire is the axial center llne they engage the line orother member only in a circle or very narrow ring around itself, andthis ensures that the dust or dirt dislodged is not retained by thebrush, to

turned outwardly to provide a gap or space 7 betweenitself and the otherend 5 through which the clothes-line or other member to be cleaned canbe inserted into the center of the brush 2, the end 6 forming a fingerpiece by which the curved brush can be sprung-open'to enlarge the gap orpassage 7 if necessary or desired. 1

Furthermore, if the inner bristles presented to the clothes-line orother member to be cleaned at the center of the circular brush I becomeworn the length 1 of wire brush can be straightened, by its ends 5, 6,and then again-bent into curved shape with unworn bristles presented atits center. This can be done to present successively to the work four ormore lines of bristles, if desired, and thus the wearing life of thebrush greatly, extended.

In order to adapt my improved brush to pulley clothes-lines,I mount itupon a carrier clamp 8 adapted to be secured to one run 9 of a pulleyclothes-line with the brush engaging the other run 3, as shown inFigure 1. This carrier comprises a lower block 10 of suitable materal,such as wood, and an upper block 11 having intermediate its ends anupward extension 12 into which the end 5 of the twisted wire of thebrush is mounted in any suitable manner to hold the brush at rightangles to the length of the blocks 10 and 11. I have shown this mountingeffected by inserting the end 6 of the wire into a socket or hole in thetop of the block extension 12 and securing it against removal therefromby means of ascrew 13 inserted from the side of the block so as to pressagainst the side of the end 5 of the twisted wire.

At the same time this screw can be removed to detach the brush from thecarrier if de-' sired to do so for enabling it to be bent to bring anunworn set of bristles into use as has been described.

One of the adjacent faces of the blocks :10 and 11 is groovedlongitudinally to receive the clothes-line 9 in order to :clamp it:between said blocks, and for purposes of illustration I have shown agroove 1st in the upper block. I have also shown the lower block 10carrying a bolt 15 which is held against turning in said block as by asquared head portion 16 and projects upward loosely through the upperblock 11 atone side '5 the groove 14 and at a thinned end portion ofsaid block 11 to receive above said block 11 a clamping nut 1? by whichthe two blocks 10 and 11 may be clamped upon the line 9, as shown inFigure 1.

Any suitable means for manipulating my improved brush might be employedinstead of-the carrier clamp shown, either for a- .pul-

'ley clothes-line or any other line or similar member, and various othermodifications of construction might be made by those skilled in the art,Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore,I do not Wish to be understoodfas limiting myself except as required bythe following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus-described the invention, what I claim is:

'1. A cleaner for endless pulley clotheslines, comprising a length offlexible twisted wire .brush :bent into curved -form with the bristlesat the inside of the curve projecting toward eachother and the ends 01the wire separable to permit the entrance of one run of theclothes-line, and a clamp for theother run of the clothes-line, saidbrush being re 'l'novably mounted upon said clamp.

2. A -cleaner for endless pulley clotheslines, comprising a lengthoftwisted wire brush bent into-curved form with the bristles at theinside of the curve projeotingitoward each other and the ends of thewire separable to permit the entrance of one run of the clothes-line, apair of blocks for receiving between themselves the other run of theclothes-line one of said blocks carrying the said brush, and a boltextending through said blocks at one sideof the clothes-line run forclamping said run between said blocks.

:KGESTE-R.

